Philippines jets, US bombers jointly patrol Panatag

MANILA, Philippines — Two US Air Force B-1 bombers joined three Philippine FA-50 fighter jets in air patrol and intercept exercises over Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal recently, the first joint military drills between the Philippines and the US under the Trump administration.

Officials stressed the bilateral exercises were not directed at any specific country. China has several coast guard and militia vessels around the shoal and in other areas within Philippine waters.

“This exercise is a crucial step in enhancing our interoperability, improving air domain awareness and agile combat employment and supporting our shared bilateral air objectives,” Philippine Air Force spokesperson Col. Maria Consuelo Castillo said at a briefing at Camp Aguinaldo yesterday.

“No, this is not in relation to any particular issue. This is just part of the usual training we have under the mutual defense board, security engagement board, lined up trainings or activities for the year,” she stressed.

She also said it was not clear if it was the first time B-1 bombers took part in a joint exercise with the PAF, Castillo said.

“So far my staff can’t recall any report from the public affairs or training office records of previous deployment of B-1 for joint training,” Castillo said. “We need to check past years’ records. So I can’t give immediate and conclusive answer for this,” she said.

She said the exercises were carried out within the regular Intensive Military Training Area (IMA) inside the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

“This cooperative effort falls under the framework of the Mutual Defense Board Security Engagement Board activities between the Philippines and the United States, specifically addressing bilateral air activities and joint air patrols,” she said.

Asked about what’s in store for Panatag Shoal in future similar exercises, Castillo said “this is just a simple flying exercise conducting joint air patrol together with the B-1 aircraft of PACAF.” PACAF refers to Pacific Air Forces of the US.

“From our mainland, they will do a rendezvous because the bomber aircraft won’t be landing here in the Philippines. They will be coming from a different place and then they’re going to rendezvous somewhere here in the Philippines, West Philippines, and then they’re going to fly within the IMTA and within that is Bajo de Masinloc which is part of our territory,” Castillo said.

Challenge expected

She said they expected foreign aircraft to fly near their formation or possibly execute intercept maneuvers. “But they will definitely receive challenges, also especially if they’re flying over our territory or near our territory,” she said.

“At the same time, there will be counter challenges as expected but as for us, we are doing this training based on international rules-based order and based on protocols. So we will just continue on regardless of the action of other foreign actors,” she added.

“We are always prepared for any contingency, it’s part of the training. It already happened before and as I’ve said, whatever the coercive, aggressive actions of any foreign party, the Philippine Air Force will continue and it will not be deterred to perform its mandate because we believe that what we’re doing, these trainings that we are doing, even the maritime patrols that we are doing on a regular basis, are within the international rules-based order,” she added.

Philippine Navy spokesman for the WPS, Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, emphasized that all military activities are programmed.

“They are conducted regularly. We expect all participants to be able to perform in a professional manner regardless of any provocative, coercive or aggressive action conducted against them,” he said. “All our actions will be in a professional manner, ensuring safety of everybody.” — Mark Ernest Villeza